A Life's Hatred.

A Life's Hatred .

[ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED . ]

Bv T . 0 . WALLS . Author of ¦* The Red Room Mystery , " " A Niyht of Peril , ' ] " The Old Manor House , " '" Saved by a Sign , " " The Secret Tribunal , " " Fa'al Divination , " " The Hermit of Dtuuianboroitffh , " The Vision of Evil , " § 'c ., § 'c .

CHAPTER I . FIjlPHSI ; T was a market morning' in llie unpretending hut brig-lit I- HI HP- ' 1 'ttlo historic town of Chertsey , Surrey , in the days l- ' ^ sf ( P 1 - ' ° ^ * - ^ en y- T ' High-street was crowded with [•' j ^ H Ha-i a motley assemblage of farmers , hucksters , traders , blSirLjZ ^ ) I and rustics . Tho cries of the vendors of various

articles of consumption and utility -were truly deafening . In the midst , of a perfect Babel of sounds there presently arose in the distance the shrill notes of a post-horn , and to increase the general excitement , the "Accommodation" coach came dashing across thc bridge and nulled apat the hospitable door of Die " Swan "

inn with an air of importance that was delightful to behold . Throwing the reins of his panting steeds to the ostler , the rosycheeked driver descended from his perch and entered the tap to refresh the inner man . He was speedily followed thither by the guard , when the following conversation ensued :

" I should like to know , William , " said the latter , mopping his perspiring face with a large gaudy bandana , " why the passenger who has just got off the coach was so particular in keeping the collar of his cloak up to his ears , aud his travelling cap drawn so far over his face , on a warm day like this . It is queer , very queer . "

" Yes , his manner struck me as being strange , " assented thc coachman , " 1 don't like his looks at all ; I spoke civilly to him several times on the road down , but his answers were so short and gruff that I gave it up at last . It is my opinion , Dick , that he is after no -rood . "

"May bo you are right , William , slowly returned the other , holding up his g lass of foaming ale to the light , and artisticall y shutting one eye in order more fully to admire thc sparkling amber fluid . " AVhat luggage had he ? " asked the driver . " Only a small hairy trunk , with a funny-looking lock , and appearing very much tlie worse for wear , " was thc reply .

At that moment a waiter with a bustling mien entered uio cosy lap where the above colloquy had taken place , and was heartily greeted by the man called William . " How do you do , Joe ' r " "Who thought , of seeing you here ? " " Tired of dusty , noisy London , eh 'i " " When did you leave thc ' Saracen ' s Head ' P "

In answer to these various enquiries , the individual addressed , said : "I am pretty well , thank you , Will ; I left town for a change ; I thought a few weeks' rest in the country would do me good . " "All , just so , " jerked the coachman . " I say , " ho suddenl y remarked , " did you happen to notice a tall man who entered the house just now , wrapped up as if hc were afraid of catching cold ?" '

" Yes , answered the waiter , " he is at the present moment in the coffee room . He has ordered dinner and intends staying here to-night . I fancy I have seen him before , but I cannot recollect where . " " I should advise you to keep your eye on the plate , " was the startling observation of the guard , " 1 believe the fellow to be aftei

A Life's Hatred.

no good . He looks very much like the man who tried to rob the ' High Flyer , ' mail , five years ago when I was a guard on the Great North Road . " The trio then indulged in a few commonplace remarks . Presently , tho time being up , the driver and guard re-mounted the coach which

went rattling through the town to the great delight uf a number of small children of both sexes , who , cheering loudly , kept pace with it for some distance , but finding that their exertions were not financially remunerated by the passengers , they returned very tired , very thirsty , and very hot to the town .

The waiter stood at the door of the inn until thc coach and his cronies were out of si g ht . Upon entering the coffee room , he discovered the individual who had been thc interesting object of the coachman and guard ' s strictures , sitting with his back to the light , quieily perusing a local paper .

Joe , wishing to scrutinise thc stranger , made a pretence of being particularly busy in putting in order a small collection of thc dry literature that was usually to be met with in old-fashioned country inns of the period , to wit : " Gary ' s Itinerary , " "The Travellers ' Companion , " several Loudon newspapers , some weeks old , divers treatises upon the horse , the farm , the kennel and other rural pursuits , all move or less in an incomplete condition .

Thc guest evidently resented this unuieaiiingintriision , for , with illcoiiecaled irritation he suddenly arose from thc chair , flung down the paper he was reading , strode to the window , and for atime wtitched thc busy scene without . In person he was ttdl , well made , and of gentlemanly appearance ; his clean-shaven face was swarthy to a degree , and his clustering hair was intensely black . The most remarkable feature of his countenance was the prominent brow under which his dark eyes scintillated like stars .

The waiter , having finished his self-imposed task , left the apartment . " I should like to fathom the object of that idiot ' s scrutiny , " mattered the stranger . " The whole time he was arranging the pile of rubbish yonder , he was furtively scanning me as intently and suspiciously as if lie were a Bow-street runner professionall y

engaged . There must be evidently something in my appearance that is different to ordinary mortals . I also noticed this morning that the driver of the coach and his colleague were regarding mo curiously . Zounds , such conduct is insufferable ! As I shall probabl y have to wait some time before dinner is served , " he continued , "I will take a turn in llie town . "

As he walked slowl y up the High-street his stately form arrested the attention of the numerous persons passing to and fro . The fact of his wearing a heavy blue cloak on so line a day may have occasioned this scrutiny , but , from some cause or other he became the cynosure of all eyes . This did not escape tho keen gaze of thc pedestrian and he quickened his pace until ho was free of the town

and in sight of tiie country , -when he abated his steps and again sauntered carelessly along . It was a glorious morning in the earl y part of leafy June , and Nature looked her best . It had boon raining heavily overnight and consequently the vivid tints of tho grass , the hedges , and the trees wore beautifully improved thereby . The air

was wonderfully clear and exhilarating , and by the incessant singing and twittering of tho birds it was obvious that they too appreciated the brig htness b y which thoy were surrounded . The sun was hi gh in thc heavens , and it brought out in bold relief the neighbouring undulating p ine-clad heights .

The solitary wayfarer had proceeded some distance along the high road , and was about to retrace his steps to the town , when his attention was drawn towards a picturesque building l y ing embowered amongst trees , about iivc hundred yards to the left of tlio turnpike . His curiosity being aroused hc turned down the narrow lane that led

to the mansion . Upon arriving at the entrance gales , hc was . somewhat surprised to Hud that the place was untenanted . A notice board announced that the property was to be let on lease ,- or tho freehold sold , and could be viewed on application to "Messrs . Clarence , Estate Agents , Chertsey . "

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METROPOLITANHOSPITAL,KimRoad' Pai > -on ~ His Royal Highness THE PRINCE OF WALES . I ¦* r jshllr ^ ti ' ^^ - ^ V „ ^* v . C / mm-ia-i-CHARLES J , 1 HOMAS , Esq . L ^^^ KP ^ fe «^* r' * , % ^ " % *^ r This Hospital has accommodation for 160 In- lfj § l fJf\ Z ' . , > *^^^^ SMffi' li' 1 ^ fflfe ^ l * Patients , but owing to lack of Funds only 70 Beds | klil ( tt | i ' * j ^ B 33 vHvl HE P HELPISURGENTLYNEEDED. ^ ^E^^^BI^^^^H CHARLES H . BYERS , Secretary . ~~~~ ~~